Meskwaki offer could end unemployment checks for casino workers

An official with Iowa Workforce Development calls this week’s employment offer by the elected council of the Meskwaki tribe in Tama “invalid.” Renae Slagle, of the Grinnell Workforce office, explains why.Slagle says “Since there’s no recognized entity in charge of the casino, then there’s no valid offer than can be recognized.” She says it’s up to each individual how to handle the offer and the situation. She says if they sign up and get paid, they won’t get unemployment pay. If they don’t sign, they still get unemployment. A spokesman for the Meskwakis says the tribe’s losing three-million dollars a week and so far has lost 54-million dollars. Some 13-hundred people have been out of work for months, and the tribal council wanted to end that.